Philosophers often construct sparse thought experiments, omitting details that would make imagined situations more lifelike. The spareness can seem merely stylistic, but it may serve a methodological purpose. A philosopher can present two cases differing in just one respect and then compare readers' judgments of them. If the judgments diverge, the contrast provides evidence about the effect of the altered feature. In such cases, the simplification is _____ rather than merely decorative.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
For a words-in-context question, determine whether the blank describes an object's appearance, effect, or purpose. Then compare the closest choices using the entire passage; here, the key distinction is between merely describing a simplified scenario and naming the investigative role that the simplification performs.
Hints
Focus on methodology
Ask why the philosopher presents two cases that differ in only one respect.
Separate appearance from purpose
Some choices may accurately describe how a sparse thought experiment looks without explaining what the comparison allows the philosopher to learn.
Follow the evidence
Look for the choice that describes a tool used to identify what accounts for an observed difference.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the simplification's purpose
The philosopher omits details so that two cases can differ in only one respect. Comparing judgments about those cases can then provide evidence about the effect of the altered feature.
Distinguish function from form
The blank must describe what the simplification enables the philosopher to determine, not merely how sparse or limited the thought experiment appears.
Choose the most precise word
“Diagnostic” can describe something used to identify the source or nature of an effect. That meaning precisely matches the use of contrasting cases to determine which feature influences readers' judgments.